2016 MID-StART HANDBOOK Midwifery Mid Student St Application for Recruitment and Training
WELCOME I am delighted to welcome you the third edition of the MidStART Handbook. The NSW public health system is committed to the training and development of midwives and we are delighted that you are considering this option. This Handbook is designed to provide you with the information that you need to make the process easier as we appreciate that it can be confusing and a little daunting. In regard to your choices about potential locations for employment my best advice is to keep your mind open to the many different options and locations available to you. Midwifery is an outstanding career the difference that you will make to the lives of women and their families is immeasurable and I wish you well for the wonderful opportunities ahead. Susan Pearce Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Welcome to the NSW Health postgraduate midwifery student application for recruitment and training, and thank you for your interest in becoming a member of the midwifery profession. Midwife means with woman. This meaning shapes midwifery s philosophy, work and relationships. (ACM 2011) This handbook has been designed to assist you in preparing and applying for a midwifery student position within maternity services in NSW Public Hospitals. Recruitment is a competitive process and it is important to ensure that you stand out from the crowd.
2016 MID-StART: SNAPSHOT May-June 2015 Information about the 2016 application process on NSW Health Nursing & Midwifery Office Mid-StART website Research where you would like to undertake midwifery training Contact Universities that offer post graduate studies in midwifery June-July 2015 10am Monday 29 June - 2016 Mid-StART applications open 10am Wednesday 29 July - 2016 Mid-StART applications close August - September 2015 October 2015 Between 27 August -4 September: Interviews held at your first preference hospital Wednesday 30 September: Interview outcome letters emailed By 14 October: Applicants must accept or decline student training positions online Notify University of acceptance of an employment offer 19 October: Eligible Applicants' Bank opens for second round offers November 2015 Employment contracts sent 3 P a g e
Preparing to apply some things to know, do and research What is a midwife? On entry to practice, a midwife is a person who:..has successfully completed a midwifery education program that is duly recognised in the country where it is located and that is based on the ICM Essential Competencies for Basic Midwifery Practice and the framework of the ICM Global Standards for Midwifery Education; who has acquired the requisite qualifications to be registered and/or legally licensed to practise midwifery and use the title midwife ; and who demonstrates competency in the practise of midwifery. The midwife is recognised as a responsible and accountable professional who works in partnership with women to give the necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period, to conduct births on the midwife s own responsibility and to provide care to the newborn and the infant. This care includes preventative measures, the promotion of normal birth, the detection of complications in mother and child, the accessing of medical care or other appropriate assistance and the carrying out of emergency measures. The midwife has an important task in health counselling and education, not only for the woman, but also within the family and community. This work should involve antenatal education and preparation for parenthood and may extend to women s health, sexual or reproductive health and child care. A midwife may practise in any setting including home, community, hospitals, clinics or health units. (ICM 2011) Becoming a midwife as a registered nurse There are two pathways to becoming a registered midwife. MidStART (this process) is the pathway to enter midwifery if you are already registered as a nurse with the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Australia. The other pathway is through the completion of a Bachelor of Midwifery degree. the highlight of my journey has been the Continuity of Care experience, by providing woman-centred care I have been able to develop relationships with women and their families and have had the privilege of sharing in their joy of a new life AB postgraduate midwifery student 2014 In order for a registered nurse to gain a midwifery qualification, she/he must be enrolled in a recognised postgraduate university course in midwifery and be concurrently employed in a recognised midwifery student position in a maternity service. There are a number of universities that provide this course, as well as a wide range of hospitals that provide midwifery student training positions. Information about Local Health Districts, hospitals and universities can be found on the Mid-StART website 4 P a g e
Choosing a Hospital It is important that you give some time to considering the hospital/s where you wish to apply for a student midwifery position, remembering that learning opportunities exist in all training facilities regardless of whether they are rural, regional or metropolitan hospitals. Training in rural hospitals may include periods of rotation to larger facilities to enable you to gain the required clinical experience. As you will be required to complete Continuity of Care experiences as well as your rostered shifts the distance required to travel to your preferred hospital is also something for you to consider. As part of this application process you will be asked to nominate, in order of preference, up to six hospitals where you would like to undertake midwifery training. Your application will be forwarded to your first preference hospital, and the Local Health District (LHD) or hospital will contact eligible applicants by email regarding an interview. Recruitment is a competitive process, and in some services there are many more applications than available student midwifery positions. In order to increase the likelihood of a successful application, it is important that you choose your preferences carefully. It is suggested that you do not restrict yourself to the major metropolitan/women s hospitals and be flexible in your options. Choosing a University The process of contacting and applying for a university placement to study midwifery is your responsibility and is completely separate to Mid-StART online recruitment. Local Health Districts may have memorandums of understanding (MOU) and partnerships with specific universities so that students studying at a particular university may only be able to undertake midwifery training at linked hospitals. In the same way, students employed in some hospitals may only be able to undertake their study at particular universities. It s important to confirm this with the universities and the hospitals prior to selecting your hospital preferences in your application. You can also check with the university/hospital to enquire if they provide mid-year intakes. Universities provide information on their websites and offer open days and information nights. It is recommended you contact the university to enquire about their application process and course admission requirements. The university will also be able to answer your questions in regard to attendance and assessment. If the university of your choice requires you to attend an intensive theoretical program at the commencement of your midwifery training, this does not form part of your employment contract. You will have an opportunity to discuss university placement at interview. Midwifery student intakes Some hospitals and universities offer a mid-year intake for postgraduate midwifery students. You will have the opportunity to discuss the intake schedule for your preferred training maternity service at interview. If hospitals are unable to fill their midwifery student positions as part of MidStART, recruitment to any vacant midwifery student positions will be advertised and coordinated by the hospital or Local Health District. 5 P a g e
The typical week of a midwifery student The combination of work and study requires you to give some consideration to how you can achieve a work/life balance. A useful strategy is to explore the support that your family or close friends can provide during your year as a student midwife. You will also experience the expert-to-novice readjustments that come from being a student again. Requirements of your course include Continuity of Care (CoC) experiences. This will require you to spend time each week attending/providing antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal midwifery care to the women you have recruited. These hours may be on top of your contracted hours of employment. Your week will include: Working with your diary to ensure that you have allocated time for your CoC experiences Negotiating with the Midwifery Unit Manager of the unit in which you are working to ensure that you are able to be at the births of the women you have recruited for your CoC experience Increased travel related to attending antenatal visits, births and postnatal care of your CoC women Allocating time for study, research and completion of university essays/projects Attend university - one day a week or at residential school. Please confirm this with your chosen university Attend in-services provided for student midwives within your training hospital Working closely with registered midwives in the development of midwifery skills Ensuring that you rest, relax and keep fit! to achieve a balance between study, work and life I found having a diary and planning shifts and assignments, scheduling in activities I enjoy on days off.. exercising and getting enough sleep all helped JC Postgraduate midwifery student 2012 6 P a g e
Useful information NSW needs midwives who are fervent about evidence based midwifery practice, who enjoy working as a member of a team and who are committed to lifelong learning. The following links may be useful to you as you prepare your application for a midwifery student position. Australian College of Midwives www.midwives.org.au International Confederation of Midwives www.internationalmidwives.org Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council www.anmac.org.au Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Authority www.ahpra.gov.au Maternity National Midwifery Guidelines for Consultation and Referral http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/pd/2010/pd2010_022.html Maternity Towards Normal Birth in NSW http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/pd/2010/pd2010_045.html NSW Health Nursing & Midwifery Office http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/nursing NSW Health Immunisation requirements http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/pd/2011/pd2011_005.html NSW Health Workplace Health and Safety http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/pd/2013/pdf/pd2013_005.pdf NSW Health Code of Conduct http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/pd/2012/pdf/pd2012_018.pdf 7 Page
The Application and Recruitment Process The selection process will consider: Your application The interview Referee reports How do I apply? You will be able to lodge your online application between 10am Monday 29 June and 10am Wednesday 29 July 2015 through the NSW Health Nursing and Midwifery Office Mid- StART website. Only online and complete applications will be accepted. Late applications will not be accepted. After submitting your application, you will receive online and email confirmation of your submission which includes your MidStART ID number. Please print this acknowledgement for your records and keep your MidStART ID number safe as you will need it throughout the recruitment process. You will be able to change your details or preferences on your application only up until applications close at 10am on Wednesday 29 July 2015. To re-access your application, you will need to enter your MidStART ID number and your date of birth through the Update Application Form on the Nursing and Midwifery Office MidStART website. As per the NSW Health Recruitment and Selection policy, applications will be culled according to selection criteria. The policy can be found at: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/pd/2012/pd2012_028.html. Information about EEO can be found at: http://www.eeo.nsw.gov.au/. Please remember, the process of contacting and/or applying for a university placement to study midwifery is your responsibility and is completely separate to MidStART online recruitment. You cannot be employed as a postgraduate midwifery student if you are not enrolled in an appropriate university programme. What are the eligibility and selection criteria for employment? The eligibility criteria are: Current registration as a registered nurse with the Nurses and Midwives Board of Australia Australian citizenship or permanent residency (New Zealand citizens residing in Australia who hold a current Special Category Visa are considered to have permanent residency status) 8 P a g e
The selection criteria provide a framework that outlines the knowledge, skills, attributes and abilities required within a position. The selection criteria are: Understanding the role of a midwife within a primary healthcare framework Demonstrated understanding and commitment to the requirements of the training programme including the continuity of care experience Demonstrated effective interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills Demonstrated ability in clinical problem solving Demonstrated understanding of collaboration across an interdisciplinary team Understanding of EEO, WH&S, infection control and quality improvement principles NB. Some positions (e.g. rural and community) may require a valid driver s licence. A requirement of your application is that you must submit a letter (maximum of 750 words) demonstrating your ability to meet the selection criteria. This letter may be typed directly into the application form or copied and pasted from a word document which you have prepared prior to commencing your online application. Some tips in answering the selection criteria Avoid broad sweeping statements Provide strong evidence (recent, relevant, appropriate) Use short, direct and active sentences Restrict the use of belief statements (do not use I feel, think, believe, wish ) Interview preparation Most of us find interviews nerve-racking and stressful, even people with many years of experience. Feeling confident at interview is a learned process. Below are some tips that can help: Request a mock interview with a colleague or your current manager Consider all selection criteria as interview questions will be based around these Review the competency standards for a registered midwife http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/codes-guidelines-statements/codes- Guidelines.aspx#competencystandards Research the maternity service you have selected as your first preference, this will enable you to ask questions of the panel Display an understanding of the role of a midwife Demonstrate enthusiasm for the midwifery profession 9 P a g e
The Interview and Selection Process Eligible applicants will be contacted by their first preference hospital or Local Health District and invited to attend a face-to-face interview between Monday 24 August and Friday 4 September 2015. Interview dates and times will vary between hospitals. Telephone and/or skype interviews will be offered upon request and at the discretion of the interviewing hospital. Please do not assume that you will be able to be interviewed by telephone. Please review the interview tips provided on Page 9 of this handbook in your preparation for interview. Questions asked at interview are designed to enable the panel members to assess your knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of the postgraduate midwifery student as well as to give you an opportunity to promote your own strengths, and your professional and personal achievements. The interview also provides you with an opportunity to ask questions about the midwifery student position. The interview may last up to 30 minutes with the panel comprised of up to three friendly, welcoming and experienced midwives, educators and managers from the maternity service. You will have the opportunity to ask questions at the interview. The interview panel will inform you how to obtain feedback after your interview. In accordance with privacy laws applications can only be discussed with the applicant unless the applicant gives consent for discussion with another specified person. As part of the recruitment process, reference checks will be conducted following the interview by a member of the interview panel. When nominating referees please note that both must be clinical; one of the referees must be your current or most recent manager. What to bring to interview Along with your Curriculum Vitae and evidence of current registration as a registered nurse with the Nurses and Midwives Board of Australia, your interviewing hospital or Local Health District will advise you of any additional documents that you will need to provide at interview. Employment Screening Checks In addition to referee checks, a number of other employment screening checks are required for preferred applicants seeking employment within NSW Health facilities. These include: 100 point Identification Check National Criminal Record and Working with Children Check Work Health and Safety and Physical Demands Checklist For more information regarding employment screening checks, you can download the NSW Health policy http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/pd/2013/pd2013_028.html 10 P a g e
Notification of Offer of Employment Positions will be allocated on a merit basis where the best applicant is selected following a competitive process. You will be advised of the result of your application when the selection process is complete. Letters will be sent by email on Wednesday 30 September 2015 advising one of the following outcomes: You have been successful and have been offered a position at a particular hospital You have been placed on an eligibility list for allocation if positions remain available You have been unsuccessful If you are offered a position you will have until Wednesday 14 October 2015 to accept the offer online or the offer will be withdrawn. As recruitment is a competitive process, if you decline an offer of employment, you will not be automatically placed on the Eligible Applicants Bank. When you accept an offer, an email will be generated to the address you have provided on your application. This email will provide confirmation of your midwifery student position. This confirmation is required by the university and must be forwarded immediately to the programme coordinator at your preferred university. The contact email addresses are listed below. University of Technology Sydney: Health.Academic.Programs@uts.edu.au or Allison.cummins@uts.edu.au Charles Sturt University: sde-vitrysmith@csu.edu.au University of Western Sydney: f.arundell@uws.edu.au Please note: It is YOUR responsibility to notify your preferred university that you have been successful in gaining a midwifery student position. Eligible Applicants Bank For applicants who are deemed suitable for employment but are not allocated a position because of the limited number of positions available, an eligibility list for employment will be created. You may be contacted by LHD coordinators who have vacant positions in their district. The Eligible Applicant s Bank opens to employers on Monday 19 October and closes either when all positions are filled or on 31 May 2016, whichever occurs first. If you are placed on the Eligible Applicants Bank or made unsuccessful in this recruitment process you are encouraged to seek feedback from the contact person provide in your interview outcome letter. 11 P a g e
Sharing of your information In order for universities and maternity services to coordinate their midwifery student program, the names of successful applicants and the facility where they have accepted a position, will be shared with all universities in NSW that offer a postgraduate midwifery student program. Your consent for the release of this information will be requested prior to submission of your application. No information (other than your name and facility) gained through the application process is shared with any entities outside NSW Health. The complete list of successful applicants is sent to all universities. The list does not stipulate which university you will attend, as this is your decision and should be based on information you have gained from the maternity service and the universities. You must inform your preferred university of your intention to study there as well as the location of your midwifery student position. http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/nursing/employment/pages/midstart.aspx 12 P a g e